Now, this article does seem to be anti-republican, ignore the last paragraph. The facts still remain, if you work for a large corporation, the tax money withheld from your paycheck goes directly to the corporation for CEO bonus or something.

Republicans will say it helps creates jobs, etc. Democrats will say this is horrible. But truth is, it doesn't matter which side you are on. America is designed to feed to elite while shitting on the middle class, regardless of which party is in office. IMO, the USA has 1 party and that's the elite.

"It’s now up to 21 states. In 21 states, they’ve passed a law that says that taxes withheld from your paycheck, for the state, can be kept by the company. Now, every employer doesn’t get this windfall — you have to have to get a deal from the government to do it — 2,700 big companies, every big company you’ve ever heard of, General Electric, Procter and Gamble, Deutsche Bank, you name it, they’ve got these deals, where they get to keep the taxes. Billions of dollars are diverted this way. You know the best thing for the companies about this?"

Taxes have been a part of government for as long as there have been things to tax, and the general idea behind them is pretty well understood. The government takes a portion of everyone’s income and spends it in such a way as to improve things for everyone in one way or another. That could be defensive spending, such as military technology or troop wages, administrative costs will always factor in, educational funding, etc. And that’s the way it works in America. Or is it? In truth, corporate lobbyists have ensured that our convoluted tax code heavily favors corporations. The fact is that it’s even possible, if you’re employed by a large corporation, that you’re paying your taxes directly toward your employing company.

In his recent book, The Fine Print, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston explains the laws that allow corporations to go to war with the American working class. In an interview with Alternet, he said the following:

It’s now up to 21 states. In 21 states, they’ve passed a law that says that taxes withheld from your paycheck, for the state, can be kept by the company. Now, every employer doesn’t get this windfall — you have to have to get a deal from the government to do it — 2,700 big companies, every big company you’ve ever heard of, General Electric, Procter and Gamble, Deutsche Bank, you name it, they’ve got these deals, where they get to keep the taxes. Billions of dollars are diverted this way. You know the best thing for the companies about this?

The workers don’t know, because once the taxes are withheld, the state government treats you as having paid your taxes. You paid your taxes. They just then give a credit to let the company keep the taxes. I’ve called journalists. I’ve called union people who negotiate union contracts. And they say, “What are you talking about?” I showed them the work I’ve done. They go, “Oh my God!” They have no idea that this is what’s happening, and the fact that it’s spread from the 16 states when I first wrote about this and it’s now grown to 21 – eventually, all of the 44 states with income taxes are going to allow this, if we don’t put a stop to it.

He also addresses the fact that a lack of regulation is actually limiting to competition when it comes to capitalism, as more successful businesses will rapidly form industrial monopolies and oligarchies:

I want more competition. Here’s what really goes on, however. We put up barriers to competition, and in fact, Wall Street has institutionalized this concept. Morningstar, they’re a big financial advice firm. They tell people that they should grade companies and decide whether to buy their stock, based on something called a “moat index.” Moat, like around a castle? A moat index asks, “What barriers has the government erected to keep anybody else from competing against that company?” Indeed, as I show in my book, you could get rich if you invest in those companies that have regulatory moats — where under the name of deregulation, we have insulated them from the rigors of the market.

This is the real welfare in America. Corporate welfare. Where the rich get richer, and they pay other people to convince Republicans how important it is to vote for conservative puppet politicians that will vote for laws that allow “the American people” to keep more of their income tax dollars — which really benefits the rich. In reality, it’s the Republican Party that is engaging in wealth redistribution. The difference in their version? They’re redistributing wealth to the top.

This is a complicated issue that I don't know exactly how I feel about it. Incentives given to companies to entice them to either start doing business in your state or to keep their existing business in the state is nothing new. There are some regulations in these incentives like the companies that qualify have to offer health care and the company has to pay a certain percentage of the premiums, but I'm still not sure if this is a good idea.

I don't know you or what you do for a living, but it seems to me that you are against anyone making a lot of money or corporations making profits.

This is a complicated issue that I don't know exactly how I feel about it. Incentives given to companies to entice them to either start doing business in your state or to keep their existing business in the state is nothing new. There are some regulations in these incentives like the companies that qualify have to offer health care and the company has to pay a certain percentage of the premiums, but I'm still not sure if this is a good idea.

I don't know you or what you do for a living, but it seems to me that you are against anyone making a lot of money or corporations making profits.

If I understood one of his post earlier this week? He has a degree but has been forced to wait tables for a living.

This is a complicated issue that I don't know exactly how I feel about it. Incentives given to companies to entice them to either start doing business in your state or to keep their existing business in the state is nothing new. There are some regulations in these incentives like the companies that qualify have to offer health care and the company has to pay a certain percentage of the premiums, but I'm still not sure if this is a good idea.

I don't know you or what you do for a living, but it seems to me that you are against anyone making a lot of money or corporations making profits.

I don't feel good about it at all. Now, the one caveat is, I do understand that big corporations employ a lot of people, which helps your cities and neighborhoods grow.

I work for a corporation and I hate hearing stuff like this. I would feel better if I knew that companies were taking savings and investing back into their businesses. They're not. More and more of these types of profits are increasing the salaries of a select few executives. Secondly, and much more importantly, this creates a disadvantage for small businesses or corporations who don't get tthese sweetheart deals. To get this economy running, I would MUCH rather we give better conditions for small business owners. Those are the people creating jobs and they invest back into the company, not hoard cash or use all the cash to line the pockets of their top guys. Unlike corporations, small businesses can't afford NOT to invest into growth because their daily survival depends on it.

I agree that there could and should be more done to help small business owners. I currently work for a very large MNC, but I have owned my own business and it is definitely difficult.

Yeah, so one reason this worries me, is we have to realize that when corporations get this extra money to work with that small business owners don't, that gives them more money to invest in things that small business owners don't have access to. And it shouldn't be that way.

This is a complicated issue that I don't know exactly how I feel about it. Incentives given to companies to entice them to either start doing business in your state or to keep their existing business in the state is nothing new. There are some regulations in these incentives like the companies that qualify have to offer health care and the company has to pay a certain percentage of the premiums, but I'm still not sure if this is a good idea.

I don't know you or what you do for a living, but it seems to me that you are against anyone making a lot of money or corporations making profits.

I think it could be alright if it the money was utilized back into the business, the employees. But that's not the case. It's just going straight into people's pockets. I'm not against corporations making profits. But I am against the lobbying, the coddling to only them while the middle class gets SHIT on. Yes, I have a problem with corruption.

I will try & find the post. Im not shitsprayer when it comes to this,so give me a lil while

oh ok

Sorry my previous job, 10 years ago, wasn't good enough. I know, people who work in restaurants are complete shit heads and are just lazy americans. I get it, man. You have a better job than me, so therefore, you are better than me. I get it.

I think it could be alright if it the money was utilized back into the business, the employees. But that's not the case. It's just going straight into people's pockets. I'm not against corporations making profits. But I am against the lobbying, the coddling to only them while the middle class gets SHIT on. Yes, I have a problem with corruption.

I haven't seen enough evidence about where the money is used for to have a strong opinion on the issue. If the money is being used exclusively for bonuses to top management, then I agree that it is wrong.

Lobbying is probably the thing I hate most about modern politics. Decisions should be based on the facts and not on who has contributed the most money to defend their cause.

Sorry my previous job, 10 years ago, wasn't good enough. I know, people who work in restaurants are complete shit heads and are just lazy americans. I get it, man. You have a better job than me, so therefore, you are better than me. I get it.

People who work in restaurants are awesome. They prepare and bring me food. They're like my wife except I don't have to listen to the nag when I get home.

Sorry my previous job, 10 years ago, wasn't good enough. I know, people who work in restaurants are complete shit heads and are just lazy americans. I get it, man. You have a better job than me, so therefore, you are better than me. I get it.

Originally Posted by Bump
n At one restaurant I worked at, 5 of the servers all had master degrees, one lady even had 2. Yet, they are working an unskilled job. That's just the way it is now, it may not be intended. But that's reality.